Summer 2023 King's Association Newsletter

King’s Association Newsletter

Summer 2023

CONTENTS

The Arthur Wellesley Society Highlights........p22

The Friends of King’s Highlights .....................

King’s LGBT+ Alumni Network Update ....... p24

The Law Society Update ..................................

The Old King’s Club Highlights ....................... p25

In the spotlight with .................................... p26-29

Alumni Highlights ......................................... p30-32

WELCOME

delighted to introduce this edition of the King’s Association newsletter. As we embark upon a new school term, I have been reflecting on my first year here at King’s – a year I have absolutely loved. It has been exhilarating and inspiring, and I feel extraordinarily privileged to have been welcomed into such a warm and generous community: thank you.

It has been a real pleasure to get to know pupils, parents, alumni and friends of the school this year, and I have been so struck by the strength of our community here at every turn, which is founded on the dedication and commitment of so many people. We have been delighted to continue working with the Old King’s Club, co-hosting the Old King’s Reunion in June – it was a real joy to have the opportunity to get to know so many of our alumni, to share in their experiences and stories of King’s, and to hear first-hand what makes King’s the special place it is. I am incredibly grateful, too, to the Friends of King’s, who continued to give their time this term to bring together the community and fundraise for the school – the Friends’ Family Fun Day was a fantastic and fitting end to their activities this academic year, and I very much look forward to continuing our work together to

Iamensure that King’s goes from strength to strength. I am sure I speak for many when I say that I am eagerly anticipating the Friends’ Fireworks Display in November and Christmas Fair in December.

Above all, I have been struck by the approach and positivity of our pupils, who make such wonderful and varied contributions to school life. It has been a real pleasure to see them excel and flourish both personally and academically as the year has progressed. We want to offer our pupils the best possible experience whilst they are with us, and also to provide them with a fantastic foundation for their futures in the world beyond school. We want them to be ready when the time to strike out for the world beyond school, to forge their own way, whatever pathway they choose, and to live fulfilled, purposeful, joyful lives – making a positive impact in their own way. We are helped hugely in this by the many volunteers who have supported our careers and networking events this year. The King’s Association 2022-23 Sector Networking Series came to a close with our Sports Sector Networking Reception, at which guests enjoyed an engaging talk by sector expert Simon Cory-Wright, Head of Tourism Development at the DP World Tour, who shared fascinating insights into what it is like to work within the sector and how this growing field offers a huge breadth of career opportunities. The Old King’s Club, in conjunction with the school, held their annual Careers Evening which provided our lower

sixth pupils with an invaluable opportunity to hear from members of the King’s community who work within the sectors they aspire to enter. The advice and insights shared make a real difference to our pupils as they prepare for university and the world of work.

What is truly special about King’s is the people and the values we share and the work we do together, in partnership, to support, to enrich, and to contribute to our communities within and

NEWS KING’S JUNIOR SCHOOL

It has been a characteristically busy year in the Junior School, and I have been very proud at the degree of enrichment we have managed to achieve in every sphere. Teaching remains highly engaging, but lessons are just one vehicle for a very broad educational experience that constitutes workshops, trips, visiting speakers, performances, projects and fixtures for every pupil. We encourage pupils to try hard in all their endeavours and to turn their hand to a little bit of everything. This focus on breadth of provision sits alongside our continued drive to ensure that pupils are safe and happy at school and beyond, motivated to be nice, mindful of others and driven to exhibit our core values.

This year, all pupils in our second and third forms took part in the Junior Maths Challenge, the most we have ever entered into the competition. The results were fantastic, an especially significant achievement in a competition aimed at pupils two or three years above. We have introduced lots of new books on all areas of accessibility and belonging, which are being incorporated into assemblies and Personal, Social, and Health Education (PHSE) teaching and will be launched in the library in their own display in September.

As ever, there has been a rich and varied programme of musical events this term. We welcomed Redhot and Blue, an a cappella group from Yale University who led a workshop with

beyond King’s. From me, and on behalf of the school, a most heartfelt thanks for all that you do to make our community the wonderful place it is. I do hope you will enjoy reading this newsletter, and I hope to see you at school in the year ahead.

Junior College Singers and then gave a concert for parents. Our pupils have also recently participated in a concert with their counterparts from the International School of Monaco.

Junior School pianists and string players have, respectively, had opportunities to participate in the King’s Piano Competition and String Showcase and, as usual, regular Rushmere and Priory soloists’ recitals have taken place alongside larger-scale ensemble concerts (one each for Rushmere and Priory). The final concert of the year was the magnificent Ahoy! which featured Rushmere pupils singing alongside children from our partnership schools with a professional band as part of the King’s Arts Festival.

Sporting endeavour has this term been spread across cricket, tennis, athletics and swimming.The U8A cricketers participated in the Shrewsbury House cricket festival for the first time and the U10As and U11As played in the St Paul’s Sixes tournament. The swim squad came 10th out of 106 at the IAPS nationals, with the U11s taking individual gold and bronze medals, bronze in their freestyle relay and only narrowly missing out on another medal in the medley relay. Swimmers from all year groups have since competed in the London Grand Final, coming 5th overall.

Squads have competed at the Aldro Athletics, West Surrey Athletics and Thomas’s Athletics, where the U11 team won a number of medals and topped their year group overall. In tennis, we have an exceptionally talented group of players and won both the U11A and U11B tournaments

at the Surrey Festival. All year groups have enjoyed more fixtures than ever before, and tennis has been an option for pupils in Transition for the first time.

Among the co-curricular highlights of the term was Hoodwinked, Rushmere’s production over two nights based on the tale of Robin Hood. 122 pupils took to the stage, each in full costume and full voice. They were accompanied by a raucous live band and clearly took a great deal of enjoyment from their experience in the Collyer Hall Theatre.

founded the Obera Schools’ Project in 2005 to help develop primary schools in a remote part of southwest Kenya. Through the generosity of the King’s community, over the last 18 years more than £370,000 has been raised and a number of significant infrastructure projects have been completed across three different schools. The project has a very special impact at King’s, providing pupils with a unique and personal insight into a life that is very different from their own, nurturing an understanding at an early age of cultural and economic divergences, teaching the importance of collective action and enabling them to make such a tangible and sustained impact on the lives of so many less fortunate people. Andrew is richly deserving of this considerable honour, and we are very proud of him.

The end of the year featured House Debating, the Lindon Speaking Competition, Collaboration Days for all year groups with Wimbledon High Juniors and The Study and various excursions, including the Second Form’s re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings, Transition’s trip to Wisley and successful residentials for the first and third forms. The end of the year also saw 42 players participate in the Junior School Chess Championships, the first time the event has taken place since the pandemic, and I am delighted to share that our U9 chess team are the 2023 national champions! The team defeated all the other seven finalists from around the country and finished with an impressive score of 27 out of 35, 4.5 points ahead of their nearest challengers.

Turning to staff news, I was recently delighted to announce that Mr Andrew Baker, a teacher in the Junior School since 2001, has been appointed an MBE in the King’s first Birthday Honours List. This is in recognition of his services to education and the community in Obera, Kenya. Andrew

Meanwhile, we thank and extend our best wishes for the future to Miss Lynda Gillard and Mrs Hilary Morren, who both retired at the end of term. Miss Gillard retired following 33 years at King’s, having spent the last 23 years as Head of Art in the Junior School, inspiring many generations of young artists, often teaching them across Junior and Senior Schools. Her creativity has given rise to innumerable exciting projects, many of them featuring in the brilliant annual art shows just before Christmas. That these exhibitions are always so vibrant and aspirational, yet never the same in content, is testament to Miss Gillard’s ever-evolving vision.

Mrs Hilary Morren retired after 34 years, which comprised 13 years in the Senior School and 21 years in the Junior School. She has had a profound influence on the pastoral fabric of King’s, working tirelessly to safeguard the wellbeing of thousands of pupils and promote a culture of kindness. She has also helped countless families and colleagues to overcome difficult circumstances, not to mention her teaching of Geography and Maths, her introduction of Personal, Social, and Health Education (PHSE) to the school and her considerable impact as a rowing coach. As Senior Deputy Head, Mrs Morren has been a great ally to me and my predecessors. We have been so grateful for her experience, expertise, and wisdom and for her unyielding support.

KING’S PARTNERSHIPS

Our extensive partnerships and outreach programme reflects a strong belief in the benefit of educational partnerships and a permanent commitment to sharing our resources with the local community. A unique feature of King’s, it fosters an ethos of social awareness and respect for difference. The programme has three main strands: the co-ordination of the Wimbledon independent state-schools partnership, consisting of King’s and nine maintained secondary schools and sixth forms (10 from September 2023), a wide range of arrangements with over 20 other maintained secondary, primary, special schools and sixth forms which offer mentoring opportunities for our pupils, and an outreach programme which includes gardening, work in libraries and a weekly tea for the elderly. Many members of the school contribute to the programme, from governors to over 400 pupils in the lower fifth and above, almost all of whom take part on a weekly basis during term time. Our recent activities include:

• The happy graduation day of the 12th cohort of Junior Aspirations pupils. The project was set up by Miss Heather McKissack MBE in 2009 with the goal of providing extension lessons in mathematics, English, and science to gifted and talented year 5 pupils from five local primary schools. With 240 children from partner primary schools having taken part since the project’s 201011 inception, the class of 2023 presented examples of their excellent work and shared details of their favourite sessions with their proud families and staff members in attendance.

• A trip to the Houses of Parliament for year 10 pupils from nine partner schools to see democracy in action. Focusing on the importance of debate, pupils took part in a debating workshop with Stephen Hammond MP back on the King’s campus, before pitting their powers of persuasion against one another in passionate debate of the motion: “This house believes that Saturday school should be compulsory for underachievers.” This resulted in passionate speeches for both the proposition and the opposition, but the motion was however, ultimately defeated.

• A talk on global warming by Dr Simon Foster, Outreach Officer and Teacher in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Department of Physics at Imperial College London, to year 10 pupils from seven partnership schools.This was followed by a carousel of interactive experiments, including one on spectroscopy, the study of the absorption and emission of light and other radiation by matter.

• An afternoon of development for year 9 and 10 pupils via an exciting carousel of challenging workshops for Senior Aspirations pupils from six partner schools. Seminars were offered in music, Chinese, engineering, geography, computing, and Greek, with many ran by King’s pupils who were keen to share their knowledge and practice vital skills of communication, as they forged bonds with partnership peers.

CELEBRATING THE CORONATION

Saturday 6th May saw the celebration of a special moment in British history: the Coronation of King Charles III. As the nation readied itself for an event not witnessed since the crowing of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953, almost 70 years ago, we marked the occasion with our own festivities and events. Pupils from the junior school all the way up to the sixth form took part in a Coronation Assembly – the school heard an address from Dr Anne Cotton, Head, which was followed by a speech from Mr Bob Mitchell, Head of the Combined Cadets Forces, and thoughts from Mr Tom Rendell, Head of History. The

PRIDE PANEL EVENT

acknowledgement of this historic moment was completed with the singing of the national anthem. Alongside this special assembly, pupils took part in a classroom decorating competition and enjoyed special ‘coronation cakes’ together.

guests – Liz Barker and Dr Clare Sumserskill. Liz, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprise, revealed in a speech to the House of Lords that she was in a same-sex relationship during the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, and has since become Patron of Opening Doors London, a charity providing support for older LGBT people. Dr Sumserskill is an oral historian who documented the experiences of 46 LGBT individuals for her project Gateway to Heaven

Aspart of Pride week and the King’s EDI calendar, pupils and staff attended a fascinating panel event in June, to discuss LGBT+ issues in society. This annual event aims to encourage our pupils to be active citizens and understand historical issues affecting the LGBT+ community; to provide an open, respectful space for diverse perspectives to engage in thoughtful dialogue; and to foster unity and respect amidst differing opinions.

This year the focus was on helping to provide a comprehensive understanding of the history and impact of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 in the UK, encompassing its political, social, religious, and legal aspects. The event comprised a pupil panel asking questions of two expert

Questions from the panel included: “How did the experiences of older LGBT+ individuals contribute to the evolving discourse around LGBT+ rights up to the year 2000? Could you tell us some landmark events you have researched, like the Montagu Case, the formation of the Gay Liberation Front, and the AIDS crisis?” as well as: “During the Cameron-Clegg coalition from 2010 to 2015, how did the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act match the beliefs and values of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties? Was it in their manifestos?” and: “How should society find a balance between including everyone and respecting traditional values and beliefs?”

The discussion made for a highly valuable and rewarding evening where the audience was able to benefit from well-presented observations from both speakers.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Congratulations to our upper sixth pupils on another excellent set of A-Level and International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) results. In A-Levels, 49 pupils obtained at least three A* grades, 25 pupils gained an outstanding four or five A* grades, and over half of the cohort achieved A* grades in at least two subjects. In the IB, results placed our pupils amongst some of the highest-scoring IB pupils in the world. There were remarkable individual successes, with five pupils achieving the maximum of 45 points, placing them in the top 0.5% of UK-based IB pupils, and 15 achieving an impressive 44 or 45 points. Dr Anne Cotton, Head, says: “I am immensely proud

In April, the lower school’s chess A team regained the English Chess Federation U13 national title (!) and the school’s B team only just missed out on the bronze medal by half a point. In an unwanted start to the day, round 1 saw the two school teams paired against each other. Tensions were high on both sides, and the games were much more competitive than the final result suggested. Round 2 saw the A team surged into the overall lead with a second successive 4-0 win against Nottingham High School, and, despite a 2-2 draw against last year’s champions, Wilson’s School, in round 4, the A team never relinquished their lead and finished 3.5 points ahead of the field with 20 points out of 24. Meanwhile, after their tough start, the B team won their remaining five matches in a streak which saw them move up to 4th place with 15 points.The school also had three of the top four individual performances!

of our upper sixth leavers. Their dedication and commitment is what underpins these tremendous academic accomplishments, and they enriched the life of our community in so many areas – from the west end stage, to national musical success, to international sporting achievement. They have grown as leaders within school, as well as making a sustained contribution to our wider communities. We wish our leavers the very best in their next adventures, as they strike out for the world beyond school.” Our pupils now leave King’s, ready to take up their places at a range of prestigious universities across the UK and worldwide, including Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, Bocconi, Yale, USC, and Stanford. They will be studying courses that vary from Natural Sciences to Ancient History, Law to Medicine, Modern and Medieval Languages to Liberal Arts.

In May, Oliver (4) was awarded the prize for the borough of Merton in the Fourth Plinth Schools Awards – a great achievement as the competition was open to all pupils in Greater London aged between 5 and 15. Entrants were invited to design an artwork inspired by the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. In celebration of the prize, Oliver was invited to attend a ceremony in City Hall to receive his award and said: “...It was a great learning experience, to meet my peers from different boroughs across London and interesting to see their works which covered a vast array of artistic mediums as well as a very wide variety of themes, including the late Queen, the war with Ukraine, life in London and climate change... I was honoured to be announced as the winner of the Borough of Merton as one of 46 from over 2,000 applicants.”

KING’S ARTS 2023

ThisJune, our inaugural summer celebration of the arts, brought an extra fizz of excitement and life to the school campus thanks to an array of performances, talks, concerts, exhibitions, and workshops.

It was our pleasure to host talks from King’s alumnus Professor Michael Scott (OK 1999) and journalist and author Anita Anand. Professor Scott led the audience through the ingredients required to make a truly remarkable discovery, while Anita Anand told the eye-opening and tragic history of the Koh-I-Noor diamond, which hit headlines earlier this year because of its place in the Queen Consort’s crown.

A festival highlight came from the massed choir which featured pupils from King’s and partner schools, as well as King’s alumni, who gave audiences of  Ahoy! Sing for the Mary Rose a real treat of uplifting sea shanties and Tudor music. The band showcase got toes-tapping along to original songs as well as well-known favourites and the junior school orchestra performed a fantastic concert, too.

Meanwhile, King’s dramatists presented three

productions: the middle school double-header, The Government Inspector and  Incident at Vichy took spectators from a fast-paced comedy of greed and stupidity to the claustrophobic world of Vichy France. The sixth form production adopted a different tone altogether with the captivating original piece,  Scottie which was written by Caitlin Costello (U6).

Our vibrant exhibition of pupil art enjoyed a great many visits, while King’s alumnus and painter, Jonathan Parker’s (OK 1986) campus walking tour was a sell-out attraction – a huge thank you to Jonathan for giving his time to share this

experience with our community. Adding another dimension to the celebrations, multi-awardwinning artist Jeanette Barnes spent her pupil workshop imparting wisdom to lower fifth pupils, challenging them to create large studies based on her sketches of the school site.

The festival’s closing day saw the return of our brilliant writer-in-residence, Sarah Govett. She led a lively pupil-panel discussion about the chilling themes of dystopian fiction and, with fitting timing,

HISTORY SOCIETY

hosted her last workshop with year 8 with whom she has been working since September. They pitched their final creative writing projects and took part in a dystopian novel book fair!

World-leading chamber musicians Raphael and Elizabeth Wallfisch together with Jack Liebeck and Simon Callaghan marked the climax of King’s Art 2023 with their fantastic recital in which they presented unforgettable pieces by Mahler, Ravel and Brahms. Those in attendance could not fail to be moved by the talent of the performers, who had led a series of invaluable masterclasses for King’s string players earlier in the day. The concert provided the perfect ending to what had been an incredibly inspiring five days of artistic enjoyment, and we very much look forward to next time.

The King’s Arts Festival was made possible thanks to the dedication and commitment of many volunteers and staff. With special thanks to our lead sponsor, Wimbledon Homes and festival sponsor Dyer Grimes Architects, whose financial support enabled us to put on a great show for our guests.

InMay, members of the History Society were invited to join a talk given by Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and Columnist at the Financial Times. Alex (U6) shared her reflections of the talk: “...I reached out to the writer earlier on this term in the hope that a group of sixth formers could access insight into the intricacies of journalism, political dialogue, and the upcoming election; Stephen rendered topics that can often be mundane to be vivid with political colour, and topics that seem polarizing and hazy with conflict in British media to be intelligible, with pragmatism at the core of every issue. He candidly discussed the Cost-ofLiving Crisis, the best policies for tackling levelling up the North of England, institutional racism, the aftermath of Brexit, and riveting predictions of the upcoming election. With built-in time for Q&A, the discussion went even further into the origins of inequality in Britain’s economic system, the political role of media outlets and the potential challenge to international order posed by the upcoming American and Turkish elections. Stephen reflected afterwards that he thoroughly enjoyed the time he spent with King’s pupils, highlighting that he found the questions we presented to him were a fascinating glimpse into where the future generations’ concerns lie and how perceptively we are reacting to the political turmoil of the last few years...”

ARCHIVE HIGHLIGHTS

A MINI REUNION

Theweekend after our Old King’s Reunion, former members of staff Geoffrey Taylor, Andrew Lang, Norman Issacs and Tony Hein (OK 1960) visited the school to catch up whilst watching the 1st XI cricket team match against Tiffin School. They were joined by Geoffrey’s children, Jeremy Hein (OK 1962), Jackie Lang, Vicky Isaacs and Lucy Inglis (school archivist). It was a lovely afternoon: the sun shone, King’s won, and many happy memories were shared. We are always delighted to welcome back former staff and alumni; please do contact development@kcs.org.uk if you would like to arrange a visit.

MEMORIES OF KING’S PAST: WESTLAND DRAGONFLY HELICOPTER WP495

Atthe beginning of the autumn term 1968, the RAF section of the CCF were set a slightly unexpected challenge: to restore a former Royal Navy Dragonfly helicopter, serial number WP495. Not having been used since 1962, it was in a pretty poor state.

The task might have been daunting but the enthusiastic members of the section were sure it would also prove rewarding. “Although lacking an engine and certain other desirable features, such as rotor-blades and experienced engineers,” wrote a commentator in the school magazine, “its restoration should prove to be a valuable training exercise, since all members of the Section should be able to participate.” This proved to be the case. Over the following years, several pupils spent at least some of their Monday afternoons working on WP495, carrying out jobs such as sanding away rust, cleaning and repainting (including replacing the Royal Navy insignia with the letters RAF), rewiring and replacing windows and the instrument panel. New main and tail rotors, generously donated by Westland, were fitted. The aim was to convert it into a primary simulator – it remained without an engine and gearbox – and special recordings were made to mimic the helicopter’s original sounds.

Ironically, the person responsible for the school

acquiring the Dragonfly had left King’s before it arrived. John Whitley (OK 1968), who recently sent the information about the Dragonfly to the school archivist, had seen a collection of retired historic aircraft at Blackbushe airfield in early May 1968 (he had been visiting Cardiff University with his parents). He persuaded the master-in-charge of the RAF section at King’s (Mr Baggaley) to make enquiries about acquiring one of the helicopters. A trip to Blackbushe ensued (also present was an RAF liaison officer from RAF Odiham, under whose authority the school’s RAF section came). As John later recalled: “We discussed our potential purchase with AVM Don Bennett, who had purchased Blackbushe in 1960 after it had closed as an airport. The helicopters varied quite a lot in condition and price but the cheapest was WP495 which was actually in a pretty poor state externally and had no engine, gearbox or main rotor blades. As the school wasn’t intending to fly it anywhere, this helicopter looked ideal for our restoration project and a price of £150 “as is” was agreed. Provided the school paid for the aircraft itself, the RAF agreed to arrange transport from Blackbushe to Wimbledon at no charge, and WP495 was duly delivered on a Queen Mary trailer.”

Although John did not get to work on the helicopter himself, his younger brother Brian (OK

2023-24 TOURS AND TEA

Wehosted the first of our Tours and Tea events in April, and we are pleased to announce that the series will be continuing into

1971, and who was also in the RAF section of the CCF) was involved in the restoration of the WP495 until he left the school; at this point, the youngest Whitley brother, Martin, (OK 1974) took over the care of the helicopter until he too left. By this stage, interest in the project was beginning to wane and, in 1976, WP495 was passed onto the Surrey Aircraft Preservation Society. Since 2017, it has been on long-term loan to the Morayvia aviation museum in Scotland, where it can now be viewed.

We are extremely grateful to John for sharing with us the history of this Dragonfly helicopter. If you have any stories to tell about your time at King’s, please get in touch with the school archivist at archive@kcs.org.uk

2023-24. If you are interested in finding out more about the history of King’s, then join Dr Lucy Inglis, School Archivist, on the afternoon of 15th September for a campus tour. It is the perfect opportunity to visit familiar haunts such as the Great Hall and the cricket pavilion, whilst learning about the school’s history. The tour will be followed by refreshments and a chance to see a selection of documents from the school archive. If you would like to attend, please contact development@kcs.org.uk

DRAMA HIGHLIGHTS

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

May saw a brilliant cast of lower school pupils present a vibrant, energetic, and funny portrayal of Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice in Wonderland.The cast worked together brilliantly to produce a production that was alive with humour as the audience was pulled down the rabbit hole, and into the wacky and nonsensical world of Wonderland. Peter (year 8) led with an excellent Alice, ably supported by Ayan’s (year 8) White Rabbit, Harry’s (year 8) Mad Hatter, an ensemble Cheshire Cat and Jake’s (year 8) fearsome Queen of Hearts. The play’s director, Miss Harriet Feeny commented: “Congratulations to the

incredible cast and crew who brought a magical, mesmerising and utterly nonsensical world to life. The show featured a vast array of wonderful and hilarious characters, beautifully precise movement sequences and playful ensemble work.”

DORIAN

In July, KCS Theatre Co. Took to London’s West

End to present an extraordinary one-nightonly performance of DORIAN, a haunting and stylised adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s gothic masterpiece The Picture of Dorian Gray Fresh off its critically acclaimed premiere at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival, DORIAN combined daring movement, stylized storytelling, and mesmerizing original music to create contrasting moments of haunting beauty and malevolent horror. The audience was immersed in the allure and danger of youth as young Dorian embarked on a life of decadence and indulgence, guided by the hedonistic Lord Henry, and witnessed the pivotal moment when Dorian’s true beauty was immortalized in Basil Hallward’s enigmatic painting, setting in motion a supernatural bargain that granted him eternal youth and beauty while his soul gradually deteriorated – a

powerful revelation ignited a dark descent as Dorian recklessly pursued love, pleasure, and vice, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

DORIAN featured the return of many original cast members, including the phenomenal Tom Conroy in the lead role of Dorian. Critics have described Conroy’s portrayal as “spectacular,” while audiences at the Fringe called the adaptation “creative, compelling, and captivating” and “one of the best at Fringe.”

It truly was a landmark event which celebrated the exceptional talent of King’s Drama, and we are immensely proud of our trailblazing and innovative KCS Theatre Co., known for their fearless and boundary-pushing approach to storytelling. Through electrifying drama, daring movement, and musical prowess, they consistently exceed expectations, leaving audiences spellbound.

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS

MUSIC MASTERCLASSES

InMay, the school hosted British pianist and Steinway Artist, Ben Schoeman, Senior Lecturer in Piano and Musicology at the University of Pretoria. He is also a recording artist who has given solo, chamber music, and concerto performances in concert halls over the world. Ben ran an engaging and insightful masterclass with a group of specially selected pianists from across the school.

In May, the International School of Monaco (ISM) and King’s came together to offer a joint concert consisting of a selection of solo performers and choirs from both schools, offering works mostly contemporary in flavour.The ensembles involved were a Vocal Group and Vocal Quartet from ISM, and the Junior School Choir, Lower School Choir and Cambiata from King’s, with soloists from both schools represented too. The finale saw the combined voices from both sides of the Channel deliver a rousing version of Viva La Vida (When I Ruled the World) by Coldplay. It was a wonderful collaboration.

INTERNATIONAL CONCERT KING’S CHOIR

In April, our junior and senior school pupils toured Suffolk to perform in several concerts. The tour began at St Mary’s Church in Woodbridge, with the choir on stunning form singing repertoire ranging from Purcell, Handel, and Bruckner to Eleanor Daley. The musical highlight was perhaps Mendelssohn’s much-loved anthem, Hear my prayer, with its demanding treble solo. The tour continued with concerts at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Aldeburgh, and Southwold in St Edmund King and Martyr Church, Southwold.

Whilst in July, King’s pianists had the opportunity to take part in a jazz piano and improvisation masterclass with the British jazz pianist, arranger and composer, Rob Barron. Rob, who has been described as “one of the most creative and versatile musicians of his generation”, studied Jazz at Leeds College of Music before gaining a Masters of Music (Distinction) in Music Performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is now a renowned artist in the London jazz scene, having recorded his own albums, played across the world, and had his music feature in several film and television programmes.

SPORT HIGHLIGHTS

TENNIS

Our U18 girls’ tennis team enjoyed strong performances this season: not only did they make it to the Branston Shield Final after defeating Reeds, but they were also successful in the Surrey League beating Reeds and Harrodian to play in final’s day. Meanwhile, our U18 boys’ tennis team battled hard and made it to the quarter final of the Rootham Shield and lost out in the third round of the Nationals to Reading Blue Coat School.

Our special congratulations go to Oliver (U5) who has had a brilliant climb in the junior tennis rankings recently. Oliver made it into the first round of the Junior French Open and hit a career high when he reached a ranking of 40 in the world earlier this year! A fantastic achievement, having risen from his place as 2,642 in the World in November 2021.

Congratulations also go to King’s alumni Arthur Fery (OK 2020) and Joe Salisbury (OK 2010) who both played in the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament this year. Arthur received his first ever main draw wildcard qualification for the Gentlemen’s Singles at Wimbledon this year but lost in the first round to Daniil Medvedev. Joe participated in the Gentlemen’s Doubles, with his partner Rajeev Ram who represents the USA, but lost in the first round to Tallon Griekspoor and Bart Stevens, who both represented the Netherlands.

DID YOU KNOW?

King’s has a long relationship with the Wimbledon Championships, read more about it in this booklet compiled by the school archivist: Anyone for Tennis?

LACROSSE

In April, the U18 Lacrosse teams for England, Scotland, and Wales headed to Nottingham for the 2023 Home Internationals series. We are delighted to announce that Ellie (L6), co-captained the English team to victory! Success in such a premier representative tournament is a fantastic achievement.

ROWING

Our best rowers had the privilege of competing at Henley’s iconic regatta at the end of June. Mr Patrick Duggan, Director of Rowing, said: “The first 8 had a very commendable run in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup. The competition started on the Tuesday and the crew had progressed through the early rounds against Winchester and Westminster schools to earn a place in the quarter finals against Radley college. In the early part of the race the crews were level however with the stiff head wind on the course the conditions suited Radley’s larger crew. Radley extended their lead in the second minute of the race and looked the stronger crew going into the second half. The crew from King’s rowing with excellent form managed to hold Radley’s progress and steadily rowed back the considerable lead to regain contact. At the

finish it was a win for Radley and the end of the King’s first 8 campaign. The official verdict for the margin of victory was one length. We say goodbye to the four upper sixth members of the crew, Tom Corbett, Sam Scowen, Finlay Sinclair, and cox Fleur Blase. The Henley experience for the remaining five of Will Bishop, Fraser Burdett, Finlay Murray, James Richards, and Ivo Monaghan will hopefully see them back next year.”

This comes on the back of the excellent news from the GB rowing trials in which four of our upper fifth rowers produced some outstanding performances: Massi (U5), Alistair (U5), Felix S (U5), and Ben H (U5) managed to beat their opposition from Eton, Westminster and Latymer by a margin of at least 13 seconds and have all been selected to represent GB, along with their coach, Aksel Caouki.

DEVELOPMENT AT KING’S

2022-23 SECTOR NETWORKING SERIES

Launched

last year, our sector networking series provides opportunities for members of the King’s community to hear experts from key sectors, such as arts and media, business, design and engineering, and healthcare, talk about their career paths, and their experiences of the sector. The series also provides the chance for members to connect with the school and with each other, around a shared interest.

In June, we hosted our final networking reception of this year’s series – the Sports Sector Networking Reception. Guests enjoyed an engaging talk by sector expert Simon CoryWright, Head of Tourism Development at the DP World Tour, who shared fascinating insights into what it is like to work within the sector and how this growing field offers a huge breadth

of job opportunities that go beyond the pure sports person – from media and law to data, technology, and much more. Either side of the talk, guests had the opportunity to network with others studying and working within the sector, and, as an additional treat, guests were offered a tour of our Sports Centre by Russell McCluskey, King’s Director of Sport.

The series will continue this year, beginning with our Arts and Media Sector Networking Reception on the evening of Thursday 2nd November. Join us to hear from King’s alumnus, actor, director and producer, Christopher Luscombe (1982) who will be talking about his distinguished career. Register here.

BENEFACTORS’ GARDEN PARTY 2023

In July, we hosted the Benefactors’ Garden Party in our grand marquee that took pride of place on our rugby field. The party was a wonderful opportunity for us to thank and celebrate the members of the King’s community who have given their time and resources in support of the school – their support truly has had a transformative impact on the opportunities we are able to offer our pupils and other communities, and we were delighted to be able to extend our thanks in person. Guests

enjoyed summer cocktails and afternoon tea, as well as musical performances by King’s 9 and the Quintuplets.

CLASS OF 2003 REUNION

Aschoolreunion in June brought together former classmates to celebrate the 20th anniversary since our departure from King’s in 2003. The event, held at the picturesque boathouse on the river, proved to be well received by all. With 61 attendees, nearly half of our year group, the event was testament to the lasting bonds formed during our school years.

Photos shared on Facebook prior to the event of Duke of Edinburgh (DofE), our leavers ball and unforgettable house parties provided a great conversation starter for old friends to share cherished memories. Music from our time at King’s was played, from Garage to Green Day –with some songs clearly having aged better than others.

A speech delivered by Deepta Sen, former head boy, who had employed his still impeccable leadership skills to organise the event, highlighted what an exceptional year group we were – not

least because of the amazing friendships formed. It also featured special recognition for those who had travelled from different corners of the UK, as well as profound appreciation for those who had journeyed from as far as Croatia, Slovenia, Australia, Malaysia and the USA to attend the reunion. Their dedication to reuniting with their schoolmates was truly heartwarming.

As the night drew to a close at the boathouse (or for some, the early hours at a nightclub in Putney) it was evident that the bonds formed within the school walls had not faded with time. Thank you to the school for their help with the event, to the boat house’s hospitality team for hosting and, in particular Deepta Sen and Andy Jackson who spearheaded the organisation of the reunion  - it was a great way to celebrate and solidify strong and enduring friendships.

OLD KING’S REUNION 2023

June

also saw us throw open our doors for the Old King’s Reunion. We were delighted to welcome back alumni from the Class of 1945 through to the Class of 2013, and we were thrilled that alumni from countries as far-reaching as Canada, Malaysia, and Australia, made the journey to be with us. Highlights of the afternoon included a warm welcome from Dr Anne Cotton, Head, and Alexander Malmaeus, Chairman of the Old King’s Club; six fantastic piano performances by pupils in the senior school; and a guided tour of the school, by School

Archivist Dr Lucy Inglis. It was incredibly special to see guests rekindle old friendships and forge new friendships, and to hear fond memories, anecdotes, and stories of school life being shared –a truly memorable afternoon.

We very much look forward to building on the success of this year’s reunion and are delighted to announce that next June we will be hosting the Old King’s Reunion 2024. All alumni celebrating milestone anniversaries, and all alumni who left King’s during the 1970’s, will be receiving invitations in the new year.

Can you help?

The Development team is on the look-out for guest speakers to deliver engaging talks, organisations to host events, and volunteers to get involved with careers fairs. If you can help, please contact development@kcs.org.uk.

THE ARTHUR WELLESLEY SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTS

The ArthurWellesley Society is a cultural society that organises a series of events each year Open to all members of the King’s community, please contact AWSociety@kcs.org.uk to join. Below is a selection of photos from their event’s this year – their autumn calendar of events will be announced here in due course.

THE FRIENDS OF KING’S HIGHLIGHTS

Established in 1978, the Friends is the parents’ association and aims to enrich the education of our pupils and foster a strong sense of community. The Friends fundraise for the school, raising money for our bursary programme and our partnership and outreach programme. Below is a snapshot of their recent and upcoming events.

FRIENDS’ FAMILY FUN DAY  CHRISTMAS FAIR

The Friends’ Family Fun Day returned on Sunday 18th June this year. The multi-sports event was great fun, including a mix of sports and skills for all abilities – our congratulations once more to the overall winning team and the best dressed team! Participants also had the opportunity to visit the various food and drink stalls, as well as several other external vendors on site.

FRIENDS’ FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Save the date for the Friends’ fireworks, which will be back with a bang on Saturday 4th November. The fireworks are a much-loved local tradition, attracting many spectators from across Southwest London and Surrey. Tickets will be on sale nearer to the event date and will be purchasable via the school’s Box Office.

Save the date for the Friends’ Christmas Fair, which will be taking place on Saturday 25th November. This annual event, which attracts over 2,000 visitors, offers guests a chance to soak in the festive spirit, and tour the many market stalls selling a wide range of items including clothing, jewellery, toys, homewares, food, drink, and much more.

KING’S LGBT+ ALUMNI NETWORK UPDATE

Established in 2021, the network is run by volunteers who work with the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity mentor for LGBT+ in the school. The main aim is to provide a social and support network for LGBT+ alumni and their allies, and to support the school in the coming years, helping

it to maintain an inclusive culture at King’s so that current pupils feel they belong. Membership is open to all alumni who wish to support the group aims – if you are interested in joining or would like further information, please contact kcslgbt@gmail. com.

LAW SOCIETY UPDATE

Established in 2012, the Law Society aims to provide support and mentoring for King’s pupils interested in pursuing a career in the law, and to facilitate links between members of the King’s community working in the law. The Society has returned to a more regular cycle of events, most recently hosting the Law Q&A Panel Session and Networking Reception - which we featured in the spring edition of the King’s Association newsletter - and a dinner scheduled for 2023-24. The society is also looking for new committee members – if this is of interest, please contact development@kcs.org.uk.

THE OLD KING’S CLUB HIGHLIGHTS

Founded in 1884, the club is the school’s alumni association. It seeks to promote united action amongst former pupils of King’s for the good of the school. Below is a snapshot of their recent and upcoming events.

ANNUAL CAREERS EVENING

The Old King’s Club, in conjunction with the school, held their annual Careers Evening on Monday 26th June. The evening was a wonderful success, providing lower sixth pupils with an invaluable opportunity to hear from members of the King’s community who work within the sectors they aspire to enter. The advice and

insights shared made a real difference to our pupils as they prepare for university and the workplace. Thank you very much to all who volunteered their time in support of the evening. If you would like to be involved in a future careers evening, please contact info@oldkingsclub.org.uk

ANNUAL DINNER

to all Old King’s Club members to please save the date for the 2023 Annual Dinner, which will be taking place at King’s on Friday 10th November. Guests will have the opportunity to come back to school and visit

Areminder

familiar and favourite haunts such as the Great Hall, whilst reconnecting with former classmates over food and drink. Dr Anne Cotton, Head, will be guest of honour. Further details will be made available in due course.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH...

... JAMES LEVELLE (OK 1999)

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. For a few precious weeks during my sixth form summer holidays, I was lucky enough to join an expedition to Ecuador in South America. It was a game-changer. My schoolmates and I hiked through the Andes, summitted a 5000m high mountain, worked on local community projects and white water rafted. When I left the school in 1999 I had only one thing on my mind… adventure. When I left Edinburgh University in 2004 that one thing hadn’t changed. The question now was how to live a life of adventure and get paid? I was terrible at taking orders, so joining the army wasn’t an option. Documentary filmmaking seemed like a sensible bet, so I taught myself how to do that and launched into it.

What is your favourite memory from your time at King’s?

I am delighted to say that I have many favourite junior and senior school memories; super fun creative art classes with Mr Fiddler, Miss Gillard and Mr Carswell, dramatic escapades on stage directed by Mr Watkins and Mr Swan, and the best 1st XV rugby team season in over 20 years masterfully managed by Mr Galloway.

One memory that stands out was a winter morning during my second year of junior school. The weather turned, the temperature dropped, and snow fell thick and fast. Tiny tenyear-old me stared longingly out of the window, desperate to go out and play. (I still go crazy for snow…) Lunch break finally arrived but tragedy

struck. A ‘wet break’ was announced expressly forbidding us from playing outside. Meanwhile, the senior schoolboys were out on the rugby pitch throwing snowballs. This was unacceptable. So, my best mates, Tom, J, and I ditched our conspicuous bright red blazers, threw on our winter anoraks, and snuck out to join the big boys for snowmageddon. We were half the size of the other lads, so we got walloped, but it was wonderful. It remains to this day some of the most fun I have ever had in the snow, but my goodness did we get in trouble when we snuck back in soaked to the skin!

You left King’s in 1999, what have you been up to since then?

Since leaving King’s in 1999, I have lived in the outback as an Aussie cowboy, muddled through the Masai Mara sleeping surrounded by lions and almost trampled by enraged elephants, travelled 6000 miles throughout South America with no cash, no credit card and no mobile phone, gone undercover in India, Tibet and China to expose the criminal gangs behind the illegal trade in tiger skins and bones, went to war-torn West Africa and captured pirate fishermen off the coast of Sierra Leone, retraced the frozen footsteps of the last great Klondike goldrush up and over Alaska’s coast mountains and deep into Canada’s remote Yukon Territory, scared a black bear, wrestled a wolf, damn near died in the third most intense hurricane to ever hit the USA and raced 9000 miles from the UK to Chile fossil fuel free championing youth voices in the climate crisis. That’s the gist of it anyway…

You have a passion for adventure and the natural world, when did this begin? Was there a particular person who, or a moment, that inspired you?

My passion for adventure and the natural world is, like all things, a mix of nature and nurture. I think every human being comes into this world with an insatiable curiosity and an electric sense of wonder. It is in our nature. But I have been lucky enough to grow up nurtured by Nature,

to a certain extent roaming Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common, though to a much deeper degree thanks to holidays spent at our family home in Devon with the relative wilds of Dartmoor on my doorstep. My childlike sense of wonder has never left me. I thank Nature for that.

What inspired you to pursue filmmaking?

Creatively I credit National Geographic Magazine. As a nipper, I loved nothing more than rifling through those magnificent magazines marvelling at the majestic photos of wild animals in spectacularly wild places. Those images etched themselves in my mind and were a massive influence on my choice of career as a filmmaker.

How did you begin your career in filmmaking?

I wrote a lot of letters… my father had a super successful career making ads for TV and it was thanks to him that I discovered the world of film. Annoyingly advertising didn’t do for me, and Dad didn’t know the folk in documentary television… so nepotism was a no-go ;) Instead, I

went old school. I did my research, identified the production companies making the films I really liked and wrote individual letters to all forty of them asking whether they might consider me for work experience. A couple replied, and the next thing I knew I had my foot in the door at a company called Impossible Picture making amazing shows like Walking With Dinosaurs!

What project/adventure to date, have you been most proud of? What was the most fun? And what was the most challenging?

The project I am most proud of is my recent self-funded, Race For The Future, climate crisis adventure for which I took on the challenge of travelling from the UK to Chile fossil fuel free on a mission to document next-generation perspectives and amplifying their voices in a film that I would deliver to the United Nations Climate Conference.

The most fun was a survival adventure Ed Stafford and I embarked on deep into the frozen wilds of Siberia. There were no commercial flights so we hitched a ride in the back of a cargo plane, then squeezed in a bus full of drunken gold miners driving on top of a frozen river, we stayed with a local frontier family and ‘sampled’ their moonshine, we fired AK47s, went ice fishing, raced reindeer sledges through the

forest, camped out with the indigenous Evenki people with husky pups for hot water bottles and discovered a mysterious crater deep in the middle of the Taiga Forest that no one can explain.

The most challenging was Free Ride for which American eco-adventurer, Rob Greenfield, and I travelled over 6000 miles through Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia without a penny in our pockets. Hunger and sleep deprivation were definitely a thing… at the same time though the relentless kindness of total strangers made it the most life-changing transformative and inspiring adventure of my life.

You recently had your film Race For The Future screened across the country by the Picturehouse Cinema group. Could you tell us a little more about the film?

A few years ago, the third most intense hurricane to ever strike the United States very nearly killed me. It is a long and terrifying story but ultimately Hurricane Michael struck harder and faster than predicted, tearing down trees and power pylons, blocking my road home to shelter. I survived by jumping in the cab of a fire truck as the buildings collapsed around me.

Hurricanes are a natural phenomenon, but the climate crisis makes extreme weather events

more frequent and, in many cases, more deadly. This was climate chaos at its most extreme. It rocked me to my core and left me feeling completely powerless. But what could I, as an adventurer and filmmaker, possibly do to help?

RaceForTheFuture was an answer inspired by the birth of the youth climate movement and the millions of next-generation activists that took to the streets to protest.

A fossil fuel-free global attempt to share that inspiration and amplify their voices in a film that I would deliver to the United Nations Climate Conference in Chile… if I could get there in time.

What’s next for you?

Race ForThe Future is a great story. It inspired me and it appears to inspire others too. The trouble is, what do you do with that inspiration?

What’s going on around you that you can get involved in? It’s not obvious or easy to find local grassroots positive impact projects, whether they are social or environmental, that not only need your help but that suit you and what you’re passionate about. I am building a one-stop shop to solve this problem. It’s called, ‘Make Good Humans’.

Finally, is there a message you would like to share with the King’s community? When it comes to filmmaking, adventuring, and storytelling I’m a seasoned pro. When it comes to web mechanics, mapping, backends, business development and legal expertise I’m a beginner at best… if anyone likes the sound of ‘Make Good Humans’ and might like to offer advice or get involved please do give me a tinkle.

I am no saint but, if it is helpful, my message to the King’s community would be, to embrace life’s adventure in every way, be kind to yourself and others, listen to your heart and go where it sends you, use your head to fine-tune your moves, and enjoy exploring ways of loving what you do whilst helping others. This seems to have worked well for men much wiser than me…

A note from the school

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to James, for kindly featuring in our summer edition, and also for supporting this year’s Prize Giving ceremony in the role of guest speaker. James shared a wonderful message with our pupils around being guided by your values, purpose, and what gives you joy – it was hugely inspiring and engaging.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Murray Bishop (OK 1990)

Congratulations to Murray who was selected this year to play Hockey for Wales’ Over 45s in the 2023 Home Nations Tournament and the 2023 Europeans Championships. Murray said: “The Home Nations at Southgate Hockey Centre was a great tournament in June, during some of the hottest part of the year. We did not perform very well suffering three defeats against England, Ireland, and Scotland, so it was with a certain amount of in trepidation that we went into the Euros, held at Nottingham Hockey Centre, in early July. The fears were quickly squashed with some great performances through the week resulting in four draws and two losses – the losses to Netherlands (the eventual winners of the tournament) and to England (the other finalists), and the draws against the same Home Nations we had lost to previously, and Germany and France. Wales O45s finished 6th but Hockey was the real winner – meeting and socialising with hockey players (many of whom have appeared in past Olympics) from across Europe. ”

Michael Choong (OK 2001) and Ben HöllerSuleiman (OK 2012)

In June, Michael and Ben participated in the Alba Trophy, a scratch 36-hole foursomes tournament going back 75 years, hosted by Woking GC. 2023 was one of the biggest Alba Trophy events to date and we are delighted to announce that Michael and Ben, representing King’s, won! Michael said: “Ben and I shot the best AM round but flagged slightly in the afternoon, tying St Georges Hill on 151. Fortunately, on the first hole of the sudden death play-off we managed two excellent shots to

win with the birdie 3. Kings have never previously won this event.” Congratulations Michael and Ben!

Declan Costello (OK 1991)

Huge congratulations to Declan Costello who has been awarded the 2023 Charles Santley Memorial Gift. This is an annual award made by the Musicans’ Company to singers, composers of vocal music, writers upon the subject of singing, and researchers into the human voice.

Declan’s research into Covid & Singing had a seminal impact upon singing globally in the pandemic, as by persuading the UK government that he and a team should research it urgently, he provided the first scientific evidence that singing was no riskier than speaking, which directly led to governments reopening their performance sectors.The full story can be read here.

Dr Chris van Tulleken and Dr Xand van Tulleken (OK 1996)

If you are a fan of the BBC programme, Who Do You Think You Are, then we are delighted to share that Chris and Xand feature in this year’s series. During their episode, they discover more about their Dutch heritage. Their research uncovers stories of ambition and true love but also a connection to a shameful part of history. You can watch the episode here

James Levelle (OK 1999)

Last month, adventurer and filmmaker, James Levelle (OK 1999), saw his documentary feature film ‘Race for the Future’ screened around the country by the Picturehouse Cinema group. Audiences watched James take on a 9000-mile ‘almost’ fossil fuel free odyssey from the UK to Chile, to document the voices of young people on climate crisis, with the aim of delivering their messages of hope in a film to be shown at the United Nations Climate conference. Undaunted by any of the myriad obstacles put in his way, including the cancellation of the conference, James never wavered from his thrilling, life-affirming (and threatening) mission. An unmissable and fun documentary with an incredible message for the world at its heart. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to James, for kindly supporting this year’s Prize Giving ceremony in the role of guest speaker. James’ gave a wonderful message to our pupils about being guided by your values, purpose and what gives you are joy – it was hugely inspiring and engaging.

Stephen J Hart (OK 1967)

The Old King’s Club Newsletter in December 2021 noted that Stephen Hart had written the biography of James Chuter Ede entitled: James Chuter Ede: Humane Reformer and Politician, published by Pen & Sword History. Ede was the Surrey man who became Home Secretary in Clement Attlee’s government from 1945 to 1951 - the longest continuous period in the post by anyone in the last 200 years. Chuter Ede came from Epsom and was closely connected with developing education in Surrey.  He was at one time MP for Mitcham, was a freeman of Wimbledon Borough and President of the Open Spaces Society (which helped preserve Wimbledon Common).  He worked at times on local issues (though on opposite sides of the House) with Cyril Black, the KCS old boy who was MP for Wimbledon in the 1950s and 1960s.

Stephen has told us more about his book: “Until now, there has never been a complete biography of him, in contrast to every other senior member of Attlee’s post-war government. So, we have now published his life. I recall that, when I was a boy in the late 1950s, the elderly Chuter Ede was pointed out to me while I was

with my family watching Surrey playing cricket at the Oval. Hence, I was aware of him from a young age. I learnt that, after school in Dorking and teacher training, Chuter Ede obtained a county scholarship to Cambridge, where he read natural sciences at Christ’s College.This also interested me, as I was at the same college nearly 70 years later and, realising I had never heard of him in that connection, I felt I had a link, and decided to research further.”

Ede’s career took him into teaching and local politics, first at district and then at county level, until the Great War broke out, when he joined the East Surrey Regiment, and later transferred to the Royal Engineers in France. After the war, he concentrated on work in the Surrey County Teachers’ Association (part of the NUT), and in politics, both on Surrey’s Education Committee and nationally. Ede was devoted to environmental conservation, preserving Box Hill and its surroundings, building many of Surrey’s by-passes, and later on, working with the Open Spaces Society, which rescued several pieces of common land in Surrey. By that time, he had briefly represented Mitcham in Parliament, but he realised Surrey is not promising territory for a career as a Labour MP! So eventually he found a permanent constituency in South Shields, although he lived throughout in Ewell. As his party’s education expert, Ede was appointed Rab Butler’s deputy at the Board of Education, when Churchill formed his wartime coalition in 1940. Together they put through the 1944 Education Act, which abolished elementary schools, established secondary education for all, and raised the school-leaving age to 15.

Having expected to become Minister of Education if Labour won the 1945 election, he was surprised to be appointed Home Secretary instead. In the next six years, he piloted numerous acts through Parliament, reorganising the police and fire services, magistrates’ courts, and children’s services. The Attlee government is well known as a reforming administration, but many of its Home Office developments are often overlooked. Ede’s parliamentary reforms

established all constituencies as single-member, as we know them today; he put an end to university seats, and to the right of peers to be tried by the House of Lords. He implemented improvements in penal policy, abolishing hard labour, whipping and penal servitude, and in particular, improving the way of dealing with young offenders. His British Nationality Act changed the status of ‘British subject’ to ‘citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies,’ with equal rights for all, regardless of ethnic background or colour. It put an end to the requirement that a woman on marriage had to assume her husband’s nationality and give up her own.

Ede was a trustee of the British Museum, and a leader of the Unitarian Church. Above all, in later life he campaigned for the abolition of capital punishment, following the case of Timothy Evans, wrongly executed for the deaths of his wife and daughter, after Ede as Home Secretary

had decided not to commute his sentence.

Stephen says: “During my own time at King’s, I was encouraged to carry out local history research. If there are any history students now looking for a suitable subject, while at the school or as undergraduates, or even for a doctoral thesis, there is a huge amount of Chuter Ede papers to be studied. Some are at the Surrey History Centre in Woking, while most of his diaries are in the British Library, and they all deserve more detailed research than I have been able to give them. I would be happy to help anybody interested in following this up. In any event, I hope my biography of James Chuter Ede will provide many with the opportunity to discover more about this varied and interesting individual. I have passed a copy of my book to the school library.”

Ed Gamble (OK 2004)

Ed, host of the Taskmaster podcast, Off Menu co-host, acclaimed comedian, and soon-to-bepublished author, has announced a new solo standup tour for spring and summer 2024. The tour, entitled Hot Diggity Dog starts in March in Canterbury and concludes with a five-night residency at the Hackney Empire in east London in June. Tickets went on sale in July and can be purchased via Ed’s website .

If you would like to share your news with the King’s community, please contact development@kcs.org.uk who would be delighted to hear from you.

King’s College School

Southside

Wimbledon Common

London SW19 4TT

The Development Office

+44 (20) 8255 5390

development@kcs.org.uk